March 8, 2013

Big Story Weather – March 8, 2013

Big Story Weather from March 7: The storm system finally began to push away from the Northeast, however, there was still some moderate snowfall in the region. High pressure brought some cold air to Florida last night with places seeing frost. The low pressure system also began to impact the Southwest US.

Weather Outlook for March 8: A few lingering snow showers will be found over the Northeastern US today, while high pressure builds in over the Great Lakes and extends southward into the Southeast and Gulf Coast region. A new low pressure system will push into the Southwest bringing heavy rains and higher elevation snows. Below is the weather for a few select cities for today.

New York NY: Partly Cloudy with a high near: 41F
Gulfport MS: Partly Cloudy with a high near: 64F
Sioux Falls SD: Mostly Cloudy with Showers towards afternoon and a high near: 39F
Salt Lake City UT: Mostly Cloudy with a chance of showers and a high near: 46F
Seattle WA: Partly Cloudy with a high near: 50F

March 8, 2013 Storm Tracker Update:

Atlantic Basin: Low pressure moving into Western Russia will bring showers and snow showers to the region. Another low pressure area moving into Germany will bring showers and higher elevation snows to the region. A third area of low pressure is moving towards England and will bring showers by the weekend to the region. Another area of low pressure is off the East Coast of the US, however wrap around moisture is still impacting the Northeast US.

Eastern Pacific: Low pressure moving through Western Canada will bring a few snow showers to the Northern Rockies, while another powerful storm system is moving into the Southwest US bringing heavy snowfall and rain showers to the region impacting places like Los Angeles. Another strong low pressure area is moving across just east of Hawaii and will move towards the US over the next few days. A fourth low pressure area is moving into the Eastern Gulf of Alaska towards the Pacific Northwest. One more low pressure area has just entered the Western Gulf of Alaska bringing winds and showers and some snow showers to the islands of Alaska.

Western Pacific: One area of low pressure is moving towards the highlands of China and will bring snow to the region, while a second low pressure system is moving into Northeast China and will begin to impact the Korean Peninsula later this weekend. Another area of low pressure is moving away from Japan and towards the open Pacific Ocean. There is one area of tropical convection located over the Philippines this afternoon as well.

Indian Ocean: One area of tropical development is moving across the central part of the Indian Ocean impacting just marine interests at this time and the island of Diego Garcia.

Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone Sandra is currently located Northeast of Australia and moving away from land with winds around 50kts and a pressure of 985mb. This storm will gain strength but should remain away from Australia. An area of low pressure has developed back near the Fiji Islands bringing showers to the region. Two other areas of low pressure are moving along the open waters of the Southern Hemisphere impacting no land at this time.

Five-Day Storm Index Outlook for March 8-12:

New York NY: The area should remain impact free until around the 11th and 12th when a frontal boundary will bring showers into the region.

Gulfport MS: Looking at a few impacts around the 10th and 11th with showers and isolated thunderstorms possible in the area.

Sioux Falls SD: Slight impacts for today and tomorrow as rain showers and light snow showers impact the region. Another chance for a slight impact will occur on the 12th as another frontal boundary moves into the area.

Salt Lake City UT: A moderate impact today with moderate rains mixing in with some snowfall possible for the region, the remainder of the period will be impact free.

Seattle WA: No impacts forecasted until the 10th and 11th when some light rain showers move into the area.

Climate Watch for March 3-7:

New York NY: The temps started the period out about 5-6 degrees below and then warmed to around 2 above normal before falling back to around 4-9 degrees below.

Gulfport MS: The period started with temps around 5-12 degrees below normal followed by a warming trend with temps about 9 degrees above average and then fell to around 4-11 degrees below normal.

Sioux Falls SD: The entire period has seen temps running about 2-12 degrees below normal.

Salt Lake City UT: The period started with temps running about 3-12 degrees below normal and then on the 6th temps rose to around 11 above normal before falling back to around 2 degrees below normal.

Seattle WA: The region has seen temps near average just slightly above and below with the exception being the 6th when temps fell to around 7 below.

Major Weather Impacts Discussion for March 8, 2013:

Day 1-3: Low pressure off the East Coast will still be impacting the region with some wrap around moisture in the form of snow and also strong Northwesterly winds. High pressure over the Great Lakes will extend to the Gulf Coast making for a nice day throughout the region. A new storm system will be pushing through the SOCAL region today and shifting into the Southwest. The middle of the period will see the storm system shift into the Plains region bringing a wintry mix to the Northern Plains along with the chance of severe weather over the Southern Plains. High pressure will be along both coasts. The period will end with the squall line moving through the Gulf Coast region bringing some strong to severe thunderstorms to the region.

Day 4-7: The period will start with the showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast and showers pushing all the way up into the Great Lakes Region. High pressure will be over the Southwest while another clipper system begins to move into the Northwest. Towards day six of the period there will be a low pressure system moving through the Great Lakes region and also another storm system pushing into the Northern Plains. High pressure will be over the South. The period will end with the northern branch of the jet providing a few weak clipper systems moving across the Northern Plains and Great Lakes.

Day 8-12: The period will start with high pressure over the Southeast and another clipper system moving through the Northern Plains, with another pulse entering the Pacific Northwest. By day nine another storm system will be moving into the Northern Rockies, while a strong high pressure center will be over the Great Lakes. Day ten will have a strong storm system along the Northeast bringing rain and snow to the region. High pressure will be over the Great Lakes extending into the Gulf Coast. Another low pressure area will be moving into the Northern Plains. Day eleven another strong storm system will be in the Northern Plains creating winter weather, icy conditions and heavy rain and also some severe weather for the region especially in the Southern Plains. The period will end with the storm system pushing into the Great Lakes and a trailing frontal boundary will be over the Gulf Coast region.

Day 13-15: The period will start with a frontal boundary extending from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast where another low pressure area will begin to develop along the Gulf Coast bringing the chance at some heavy rainfall. Another clipper system will be moving through the Northern Plains. The end of the period will finish with another active southern jet stream pushing another storm system into the Southwest. This storm will push a wintry mix to the Northern Plains again.

Sneak Peak out 30 days: The pattern over the Day 15-30 period looks to support a more southerly flowing jet stream meaning that our precipitation will be moving in from the Southwest. This is a pattern which is supportive of larger storm systems to impact the United States. As we start moving closer to the Spring Season expect to see this to bring an increase in Severe Weather to the Southern Plains by the end of March into the first part of April. The chance for severe weather will become elevated.

Today’s Spotlight Forecast is for Austin TX:

Friday: Mostly Cloudy with periods of showers. High temps will be around 67F, the winds will be from the Southeast 9-14mph as overnight lows drop to around 59F.

Saturday: Mostly Cloudy with Thunderstorms and a high near 66F, winds will be from the Southeast 10-15mph as overnight lows fall to near 63F.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy with Thunderstorms and a high near 56F, winds from the Northeast 20-25mph as overnight lows fall to around 41F.

Monday: Partly Cloudy and cool with a high near 54F, winds from the Northwest 18-23mph as overnight lows fall to around 43F.

Tuesday: Partly Cloudy and warmer with a high near 63F, winds from the North 7-12mph as overnight lows fall to around 43F.

Ask The Weatherman for March 8, 2013:

Question: When is the hurricane season for the Atlantic?

Answer: Good question today from Facebook. The Atlantic has a hurricane season from June 1 – November 30. However, it has been known to see earlier storms form in the Atlantic.

*** To have your question of the day answered or have your city spotlighted for the day make sure to visit redOrbit on Facebook. ***

Green Energy Weather Report for March 8, 2013:

Wave Energy: The Pacific Northwest will still have marginal wave energy support today. Also looking at behind the frontal boundary over SOCAL as an area for wave energy. The third will be up in the Northeast behind the low pressure area.

Solar Energy: The Mid-Atlantic into the Gulf Coast and Southeast will be a great place for solar energy today. Another place will be the Northern Rockies.

Wind Energy: A few pockets of wind energy will setup with the first being behind the storm system in the Northeast and another one will around the Southern Plains over Texas. The bigger one will be out over the Southwest behind the new strong storm system.

Hydro-Energy: Places in the Northeast will have some long term snowfall energy again today. The Southwest will be the place receiving a lot of short term and long term energy today with the strong low pressure system.

March 8 Weather and Your Wallet (Portland OR):

Dining: A nice day to get out and enjoy lunch at the park but you will want your jacket as it will be a tad cool.

Transportation: Today’s weather will bring no issues to the transit system or any roadways.

Shopping: Today will be a nice day to get out after work and hit the malls and do some spring shopping as the weather will be favorable.

Electricity: The region will see a small demand for heating today and the max should be during the evening and overnight hours forecasted to be around 16HDD’s for the day.

Yard Work: Today will be a nice day to get out and get some yard work done to prepare for spring.

Construction: There should be no issues with outdoor construction today as the area will remain dry and cool.

Outdoor Venues: The weather today will be a nice day to get out and go for a walk or a bike ride and also taking the pets to the park to let them get some outside time.